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Circular Saw Safety

Principal Author / Publisher:Safetyhow Admin
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Professions such as wood workers and construction often have to use a circular saw to get a job done correctly. A circular saw is one of the top five most dangerous electrical hand tools. Many people think because they are small or that they use it all the time it is safe. The only way to be sure of that is to follow circular saw safety rules. There are over 10,000 preventable circular saw injuries every year. By knowing and using circular saw safety you can guarantee that you are not one of the injured statistics this year or any year after.

Circular Saw Safety Tips

One of the most important circular saw safety tips is always wear protective gear. There are three pieces of personal safety equipment you should make sure you are using every time you pick up a saw. The first is goggles. They will protect you eyes from wood shards and particles in the air. The second is leather gloves. While the gloves will not stop the blade from damaging your fingers they will help prevent pieces of wood that break off from becoming embedded in your skin. The third piece of safety gear is earplugs. Constant exposure to loud noises such as a saw can permanently damage your hearing. While it is not completely necessary you can also choose to wear a face mask while cutting wood. A mask will reduce the amount of small wood particles you breath in while working.

Always wipe down and clean the saw after each use. Before you begin cleaning the saw make sure it is unplugged. Clear the left over debris off of the saw top. Remove the blade and wipe it down. Sawdust can build up on a dirty machine and cause it to malfunction while you are working with it. Also clean the blade guard.

Buy and use the correct circular saw. If you are left handed you should buy a saw that has the blade on the left side and left handed workers should use circular saws that have the blade on the right side. This will help keep your hands as far away from the blade as possible.

Check the blades every time you pick it up. Make sure you are using the correct size blade for the job you are doing. Inspect the blade for chips and cracks if it is broken in anyway get a new blade before starting your day. A broken blade could cause the wood to shift or fly out from under the saw.

When you are finished the job turn off the blade. Hold the circular saw until the blade has completely stopped moving. Never lay down a saw that is still turned on. Just like stopping the saw is important so is starting the saw. When you turn the saw on make sure it is not in contact with any wood. Let the saw reach it’s full speed before you place it next to the wood you intend to cut.

Circular Saw First Aid

-If you or someone at work is injured by a circular saw call your local emergency number and get an ambulance there immediately to help.

-If sawdust gets in your eyes go to the nearest eyewash station and rinse your eyes for 15 minutes or until medical help arrives.

-Clean the wound if possible. This will help remove any foreign objects.

-If you are bleeding it is best to put pressure on the wound to help slow the flow of blood.

-If it is an extreme case and a finger in lost it is important to get medical help immediately. Let them know that a finger has been removed so they can be ready to deal with it when they arrive. Until help gets there keep the person calm,they maybe in shock at this time. Helping them focus on breathing will reduce the chances of them going into shock. If you have the missing finger it should be out on ice to help preserve it. Often doctors can surgically put the missing finger back on if the tissue is not dead. Keep the hand above the heart at all times to help reduce the blood flow.

Circular saw safety should be taught to all employees that are required to use the equipment while working.
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